Royal Icing Recipe

Royal icing is a classic, versatile frosting that sets firm with a smooth, glossy surface, making it ideal for decorating sugar cookies, gingerbread houses, and a variety of baked treats. Simple to prepare with just a few ingredients, it can be colored with gel food coloring to produce bright, eye-catching designs. Perfect for both outlining and flooding cookies, this recipe delivers a polished, professional finish without complex techniques. Whether for holidays, celebrations, or everyday baking, this royal icing ensures reliable, consistent results every time.

Ingredients

• 3 egg whites
• 1 pound (450 g) confectioners’ sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions

1. Place the egg whites in the bowl of a stand mixer or a large mixing bowl.
2. Beat on medium-low speed until frothy, about 1 minute, making sure no yolk is present for the best consistency.
3. Slowly add the confectioners’ sugar while mixing on low speed to maintain volume.
4. Stir in the vanilla extract until the mixture is fully combined.
5. Increase the mixer speed to medium-high and beat until stiff, glossy peaks form.
6. If using color, divide the icing into separate bowls and add gel food coloring as desired.
7. Fill piping bags with the icing and use for outlining and flooding your cookies.

Preparation Details

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 0 minutes
• Total Time: 5 minutes
• Servings: 36
• Yield: Enough icing to decorate approximately 36 cookies